The 2013 “Expert” Panel – THE NETHERLANDS

Every year our “Expert” Panel comes together to judge all entries for the Eurovision Song Contest and they’re back to take apart the 2013 entries and rank them accordingly. While their characters and comments may be wacky, the scores are dead serious. All 13 panelists will comment on the song and rank them accordingly giving it points using a scale from five to zero. At the end you’ll also get to cast your vote in the poll. If you would learn more about the panelists and to discuss the show, join us on our Forum HERE

Let’s have a look at the current scoreboard:

Today the Panel is going to review the Dutch entry. Anouk was internally selected so does her song “Birds” have what it takes to convince our experts?

It’s superman, it’s a plane, it’s BIRDS! I become depressed after listening to this song, it is that good with how do you say it… emotions. Her voice puts all my aspirations to become a top star again into shambles. Her song is artistry at finest. I am no one to judge this artist. HELL, I’m not even an artist in front of Anouk.

This song is a discovery of this year for me. I even can’t definitely describe my feelings about it. At the first sight the composition can seems boring, but when you’re going to the deep of the song, you start to realize that “Birds” is a great creation which is performed by a great singer. When you’re reading the lyrics, you can notice the deep allegory, which is passing all over the song. But unfortunately I think that the song won’t do very well at ESC, because a few people can feel the mood of the composition

A highly anticipated song, and it delivers in spades. This is a very ethereal ballad. Loads of different instruments, even a choir in the last minute. Her voice is spectacular and there are no worries about live delivery. It slowly builds up through the 3 minutes and doesn’t rush the delivery. It isn’t instantly catchy, but after the second listen you see the qualities shine through. Netherlands could be on for one of their best even finishes at ESC. It has been said this is “too good for Eurovision”. Here’s hoping the voters surprise on the night. Wonderful.

Eau: Oh, this reminds of the time when I met my first husband on my vacation in Florida in the late 1960s. Every day we went sailing in the ocean and of course I was afraid to catch a cold so I wore my lux sweater made of 100% pure Italian lana, which is a chic word for wool. Much too warm, of course. In the evening we would have romantic dinners in places like Boca Raton and Delray Beach. Oh yes, there I was, wearing my warm lana sweater in the evening sun of Delray Beach. Silly me… (to be continued)

Birds falling out of the sky like rain drops, I don’t know about you but I’d call this major hail. But beside of this I can’t say anything bad about this song. Its unpredictability melody makes it a very special song so big thumbs up from me.

The song and this young Dutch singer is unique! My dear wife Grandma Snowman will love this!
This is also reminds me the good old movies we used to watch together with the music and good old singers!

This song is really good! Birds falling down the rooftops/Out of the sky like raindrops, what lyrics! I hope the live performance will feature real dead pigeons falling from the roof of the Malmo Arena, I haven’t cooked poultry in a long time! For that reason, this song is one of my favourites!

This takes me in a fairyland of a Disney cartoon…Instantly I remember the beautiful soundtrack from Anastasia. Personally I’m in love with this kind of songs and I really like to see more of this kind in Eurovision, but, I have to face it, my magic influence isn’t enough to make this possible. I bet it will be very high in the final rank, but only if the stage performance will be magical…

Kind of melancholic and conspicuous sound, something I want to listen while doing potion experiments (or cooking birds for dinner). However, it could be better with richer orchestration. She seems to carry the song quite well. Now, off to get my crossbow…it is after all a bird season in the Faroe Islands and as the song says, birds will be falling down..

Anouk brings quality to this year’s contest. It’s a very special song and makes you feel like you are in a scene from a 50s movie, this feeling for me is great. It’s a song that if you hear on the radio, you would never thought it’s a Eurovision song. There’s a good thing in it, the melody is not predictable at all, but once you get it, it doesn’t go out of your head! I hope to see it doing well in Malmö, it surely deserves it!

This is music of my kind! This is something I would put on the stereo while the rain is pouring down and the trees get moved by the wind. Deep and dark lyrics, something that is unusual for this contest I feel. But this has to do well, in a contest filled with as much happiness as when people see clipping hands from a seal. Good job, Netherlands! Hope you get to be up among the highlands in May!

“Birds” is an interesting, brave entry from the Dutch people. It is a very hmmm.. interesant neo classical piece of musica. Anouk tackles the song in such a strange way. I go to many concerts of avant-garde music in San Marino. My ears enjoy the challenge of weird vocals but there is something about the way Anouk sings this that is off putting to me. I find the area’s she takes the melody very peculiar to listen to. It almost depresses me and this comes from someone who listens to Nico’s “Desert Shore” on repeat. I respect and welcoming entries like “Birds” very much however.

NONE

Anouk has a captivating voice; I’m almost hypnotised at thestart. This would better be seen in the background of a Tom Burton movie to behonest or even a musical. I expect lyrical dancers spinning around…I don’t seethe appeal to this song though. The music is just strange. Will it do well? Mymoney is on the YES option because people are often drawn to something a littledifferent. From a personal stand point, I can’t stand it. Scotty not too pottyabout this one Netherlands!

3 Comments

Wouter

Wauw… never thought Anouk would get this high amount of points… even more then Norway =) I hope you’re all right =)

rajo

April 15, 2013 at 12:59

This is my favourite song this year and I am all in for the Netherlands (although I like Ukraine too, but I feel like NL deserves it so much more).

The song is very apocalyptic and reminds me of the glooming end of times ahead of us!

Zack

April 15, 2013 at 19:08

I really liked the Norway song when i first heard it. Now I just find it irritating. This song gets better and better after every listen. Ukraine I like too, but I’m worried that Zlata will come off as Celine Dion: a robotic powerhouse vocal sans actual emotion… There is so much emotion with Anouk and “Birds.”